Chapter 369: Left Ning and Xie Chucai

From the demonic cloud, deafening laughter boomed, "Another one relying on magical artifacts! If your cultivation and intent can't even lock onto me, I could easily evade you even if you had ten thousand artifacts. Killing you up close would be like cutting grass."

All the martial cultivators watching from below were aghast.

Both Chen Huang and Cao Shisan were top figures on the 'Jiazi Register,' yet as they combined forces with their powerful artifacts to face the enemy, they felt as if they were merely pawns being toyed with.

Li Weiyi, adopting a student's attitude, looked up and watched intently.

Such a clash between the strongest figures below the Longevity Realm was a rare spectacle.

He silently analyzed, "Chen Huang and Cao Shisan's manifested Dao hearts are already very strong, but they can't lock down the Demonic Child. The gap in their combat intent, techniques, and speed is too significant, leaving them only capable of passively taking blows."

"The Demonic Child's physical body is extremely powerful; he must have refined at least ten catties of immortal soil, and it's highly probable he has already cultivated a Longevity Body."

With Li Weiyi's current cultivation, he could clearly discern the techniques of all three, along with their underlying principles.

A martial cultivator of a lower Dao Seed Realm would likely only see blurred shadows.

Li Weiyi quietly pondered how he would unleash the power of a formidable artifact if he were to find himself in such a disadvantageous situation.

"Those two were still affected by the Demonic Child's reputation and words!" Zuoqiuling sighed. "Deep down, they had already convinced themselves of inevitable defeat, severely diminishing their fighting spirit and resolve. Their combat wisdom vanished, and their powerful artifacts became useless scrap metal in their hands. A two-on-one fight shouldn't have turned out this way."

The realization struck Li Weiyi like a revelation. He instantly understood why the battle was so one-sided: the vision of a Longevity Realm grandmaster was truly superior.

"Boom!"

"Rumble!"

Chen Huang and Cao Shisan fell one after another, lying at the bottom of two large craters, barely alive and unable to get up.

Experts from the Chen family and the Ministry of Works immediately rushed to provide aid.

The Demonic Child landed on the roof of the hall behind them, remarking, "The two strongest could only last a dozen moves. Is there anyone else in the Lingxiao Living Realm?"

Outside the hall, all the martial cultivators from the Lingxiao Living Realm fell silent. Watching the two figures in the craters, they felt a sense of humiliation and helplessness, as if their legs had been broken, forcing them to kneel in disgrace.

A long silence ensued.

In the square, Xie Chucai, clad in red, walked atop the demonic clouds and mist, politely stating, "By the Sea of Blood, the Land of Immortals. Emperors gather, ten thousand coffins return to the void."

"I have long heard that the Lingxiao Living Realm is a flourishing land in the Southern Continent, blessed with exceptional talents. Since all experts under sixty years old have been defeated, I, Xie, wish to represent the Du'e Monastery and challenge the martial cultivators of the Lingxiao Living Realm who are under thirty, offering you all a chance to regain your honor."

The Demonic Child laughed, "That's too much bullying! Extend the age limit to forty, or remove it entirely. As long as they are below the Dao Fruit Realm, you can just take them all on!"

Before their arrival, the Demonic Child and Xie Chucai had already agreed to use this battle to break the spirit of the Lingxiao Living Realm's younger generation, paving the way for their grand plan.

"As you wish, Senior Brother."

Xie Chucai, with a gentle smile, added, "I enjoy challenges. They say the Sixth Heaven and Seventh Heaven are insurmountable divides, but tonight, I, Xie, shall dare to try. I will accept all Seventh Heaven martial cultivators from the Lingxiao Living Realm as well!"

The martial cultivators present all knew that Xie Chucai was almost invincible. He had defeated a Seventh Heaven Dao Seed Realm martial cultivator from Luantai in just three moves, leaving him severely wounded and spitting blood.

Even "Star-Moon Slave," the strongest Sixth Heaven Dao Seed Realm martial cultivator in Lingxiao City, could only endure a few moves against him.

Li Weiyi noticed that Long Xiangcen had disappeared. He immediately withdrew from the crowd, opened his insect pouch, and instructed Erfeng to help track her scent.

With Taishi Yu severely injured and their plan disrupted, he had no choice but to act personally.

If he could capture Long Xiangcen, he would have a chance to find Luan Shenglinyou and the thirty missing undead powerhouses.

"Zuo Ning!"

Jiang Ning flashed out from behind a palace pillar, blocking his path. Her smoky, starlike eyes were filled with scrutiny as she observed his gaze. "How did you and Zhuang Yue meet? Where? When? I need precise information."

Li Weiyi knew she was suspicious and would surely go back to ask Zhuang Yue the same questions. He sneered, "Isn't Official Jiang getting a bit too nosy? Do we have to report every single detail of our lives to you?"

Jiang Ning's brows furrowed slightly. She pondered how to unveil the mist and see if the truth behind all the disguises matched her suspicions.

In the distance, on the square.

Xie Chucai's gaze swept over, a flicker of contemplation deep within his pupils. Then, he called out loudly, "Zuo Ning, our unresolved grievances from the Battle of Nanyan Pass remain. How about we settle them now?"

He had been following Jiang Ning and had personally witnessed Luantai's earlier ambush of Li Weiyi. Naturally, he knew that Zuo Ning was the one who had escaped Nanyan Pass using spatial techniques.

He had no interest in Zuo Ning.

His interest lay with Jiang Ning and the secrets of the spatial escape technique that Zuo Ning possessed.

"Whoosh!"

Xie Chucai's movement technique was mysterious. Standing upright, he left three afterimages in the air before appearing directly above and behind Li Weiyi. Wisps of spiritual energy instantly condensed in his hand, forming a four-foot-long sword.

"Be careful!"

Jiang Ning warned him with a spiritual energy transmission.

The moment Xie Chucai executed his movement technique, two flying swords, one green and one white, each only a foot long, flew out from Taishi Bai's ancestral field, intercepting the attack.

"Clang! Clang!"

Xie Chucai elegantly swung his sword, deflecting both the green and white swords.

Taishi Bai executed a movement technique, positioning himself in front of Li Weiyi. "Zuo Ning is merely a Five-Star Spirit Master, far beneath you. I am a Sixth Heaven Dao Seed Realm cultivator; I will fight you."

Li Weiyi felt bewildered. "Brother Taishi, there's no need to engage him! We have no immediate grievances. If anything, he's just trying to show off for Fairy Yu, earn a smile, and flaunt his power in Lingxiao City."

Li Weiyi knew that Taishi Bai was absolutely no match for Xie Chucai and did not want him to take such a risk.

Xie Chucai remained composed, yet a clear killing intent flickered in his eyes.

His vision was exceptional; he had clearly seen Jiang Ning's subtle concern for "Zuo Ning's" safety moments before.

Why was that?

Taishi Bai recalled his two artifact flying swords. "As a man of Lingxiao, I cannot tolerate this today. Even if he weren't targeting you, I would still challenge him. To win is certainly joyful, but to lose is also to be at peace."

"Hundred Locks, Thousand Chains."

Taishi Bai released his manifested Dao heart.

Spiritual energy condensed into chains of various sizes, weaving and crisscrossing through the surrounding void.

"Clang!"

He attempted to control the spiritual energy chains with his intent, aiming to bind Xie Chucai. However, as the chains entered within ten feet of Xie Chucai, they automatically disintegrated, torn apart by an invisible force of will.

Xie Chucai watched him with a calm, dismissive gaze, as if extending an "invitation."

Taishi Bai had never feared anyone at his own cultivation level. With the green sword in hand, the white sword flew forth.

Dense white sword energy surged from the sword's body, converging into a winding dragon of sword energy that rapidly rushed towards Xie Chucai.

Xie Chucai didn't use any specific technique. Instead, he channeled spiritual energy with his intent, forming a rain of swords that clashed with the incoming white sword energy.

"Boom!"

Taishi Bai, wielding the green sword, transformed into a pillar of green light and slammed into the protective spiritual energy barrier in front of Xie Chucai, causing the barrier to shake violently.

Tiny golden scriptures, the size of fly legs, appeared on the blade of the green sword. Its power surged, piercing through Xie Chucai's protective spiritual energy barrier and heading straight for his chest.

"Thud!"

Rings of energy ripples dispersed, but Xie Chucai remained suspended steadily in mid-air.

A closer look revealed that Xie Chucai had caught the sword with his bare hand.

His palm was encased in frost, translucent and gleaming, as if covered by a layer of immortal jade.

"The great art of Du'e Monastery, Profound Ice Force!" Ge Xiantong's expression was grim, clearly harboring much displeasure towards the Demonic Child and Xie Chucai.

"Hiss! Hiss!"

The Profound Ice Force spread along the foot-long green sword, extending towards Taishi Bai's fingers and arm, freezing his entire arm numb.

Taishi Bai's eyes widened in alarm. He tried to abandon the sword and retreat but found his fingers completely stuck to the hilt. He met Xie Chucai's gaze.

He saw a chilling smile in Xie Chucai's eyes and knew at once that things were dire. He immediately willed the white sword to fly back to him.

Xie Chucai reached out through the air and took the white sword. "To win is certainly joyful, but to lose is also to be at peace. But if your life and death are in my hands, how can you be at peace?"

"Is that so? It's not that simple!"

Taishi Bai exhaled a mouthful of spiritual energy, and a thunderous roar echoed from his chest.

Within the spiritual energy, streaks of lightning shot directly towards Xie Chucai's face.

The proximity caught Xie Chucai off guard. He hastily retreated and dodged, activating his artifact battle attire for protection. Still, he was left in disarray; his left cheek was grazed by the lightning, leaving a scorched mark.

"You're asking for death."

Xie Chucai touched his searing, throbbing face, where a patch of flesh was ruined. His killing intent peaked, and his figure, swift as an illusion, instantly appeared before Taishi Bai.

The white short sword in his hand pierced Taishi Bai's left chest, pushing him back repeatedly.

The blade then moved downward, aiming for the heart.

"Stop!"

Almost simultaneously, Li Weiyi and Jiang Ning surged forward, one from the left, one from the right.

They were closest and recognized Taishi Bai was in mortal danger.

"Whoosh!"

From his Wind Mansion, the Myriad Things Staff-Spear flew out.

"Fight!"

Li Weiyi's body glowed with spiritual light, forming a golden armored battle suit. He grasped the staff-spear and swung it down from above.

Jiang Ning moved like an illusion, soaring close to the ground, and thrust her sword upwards, aiming for the arm Xie Chucai was using to hold his weapon.

"Rumble!"

Xie Chucai's manifested Dao heart was unleashed, spiritual energy surging like a tidal wave. He displayed his true power, instantly repelling all three.

He hadn't completely lost his mind and understood the consequences of killing Taishi Bai in Lingxiao City. He merely wanted to provoke "Zuo Ning" into action. He believed "Zuo Ning" possessed a spatial displacement treasure rather than having cultivated a spatial escape technique.

He intended to seize it on this occasion.

If he dared not kill Taishi Bai, surely he could kill a mere retainer of the Taishi family?

The only thing he hadn't anticipated was Jiang Ning also attacking him.

This ignited an indescribable hatred within him; his genuine efforts had been met with blades.

"Whoosh!"

Xie Chucai gave Taishi Bai a cold glance, then, holding his white short sword, turned and attacked Li Weiyi. His movement speed was far superior to Long Xiangcen's.

Knowing he was no match for Xie Chucai, Li Weiyi immediately used the "Advance" Mental Art to teleport.

His body flickered like a flame, each flash covering dozens of feet, heading straight for the sky.

"No matter how clever your Mental Art, if you cannot escape my manifested Dao heart, you are but a bird in a cage, a hawk on a perch."

Xie Chucai, clad in his strikingly vibrant red robes, pursued him, treading on clouds of spiritual energy. He spread his five fingers, mobilizing the power of his manifested Dao heart to condense layers of spiritual energy clouds, pressing down on Li Weiyi and forcing him back down from the sky.

Zuoqiuling, knowing some of the truth about Zuo Ning's identity, sensed Xie Chucai's murderous intent. He secretly gathered spiritual energy, preparing to intervene at a critical moment. After all, Zuo Ning's cultivation was vastly inferior to Xie Chucai's.

Fleeing was merely a feint.

Li Weiyi, with the 'Jie' character Immobilization Talisman hidden in his left sleeve, turned in mid-air and thrust his spear straight down, its head shining like a falling meteor.